Colorado Rockies: 3 positives heading into the All-Star break

Second, Kris Bryant is making a difference

Heading into Sunday, the Rockies have played 92 games, so they are well past the halfway point of the season. Kris Bryant, the player that manager Bud Black has repeatedly said is an integral part of the lineup this season, has seen action in just 32 of them. Dealing with back issues for most of the first three months of his time in a Rockies uniform, Bryant watched from the sidelines as Colorado struggled.

However, since coming back from the injured list on June 27, Bryant has shown exactly what he can do for the Rockies at the plate, slashing .356/.415/.627 with eight extra-base hits (including four home runs) and eight RBI. As our writer @SABRSkeptic pointed out on Twitter, Bryant’s impact on the team, on and off the field, can’t be overlooked.

“He’s arguably, when he’s right, our best offensive player,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “When you go through every team and identify that guy, then take him out, what does that lineup look like? When you put him back in, what’s that look like?”

That’s exactly what Colorado is asking heading into the rest of the schedule. Bryant won’t be participating in the All-Star Game, so he’ll head to Milwaukee fresh and healthy for a four-game series against the Brewers where the Rockies have the opportunity to continue their recent momentum.